WHO says UK should not delay second dose of Covid jab
The Government has delayed the second dose from three weeks to 12 weeks so more people can get a jab
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The second dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine should only be delayed for up to six weeks, global health leaders have said.
Experts in the UK have said that the second jab can be delayed for up to 12 weeks in a bid to get more people vaccinated sooner.
Dr Cravioto told a WHO press briefing on Tuesday: “Sage recommend the administration of two doses of this vaccine within 21 to 28 days.
“While we acknowledge the absence of data on safety and efficacy after one dose beyond the three/four weeks studied in the clinical trials, Sage made a provision for countries in exceptional circumstances of vaccine supply constraints and epidemiological settings to delay the administration of the second dose for a few weeks in order to maximise the number of individuals benefiting from a first dose.”
Experts in the UK have said that the second jab can be delayed for up to 12 weeks in a bid to get more people vaccinated sooner.
Dr Cravioto told a WHO press briefing on Tuesday: “Sage recommend the administration of two doses of this vaccine within 21 to 28 days.
“While we acknowledge the absence of data on safety and efficacy after one dose beyond the three/four weeks studied in the clinical trials, Sage made a provision for countries in exceptional circumstances of vaccine supply constraints and epidemiological settings to delay the administration of the second dose for a few weeks in order to maximise the number of individuals benefiting from a first dose.”
There is “very little data” to underpin the UK’s recommendation to delay the second dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 jab for up to 12 weeks, global health leaders have said.
The second dose of the vaccine should only be delayed for up to six weeks, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
But British experts said delaying the second dose would mean the vaccine is “as or more effective when delivered at an interval of 12 weeks from the first dose”.
The British Medical Association has backed calls for calls for second doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to be offered as soon as possible.
Experts in the UK have said that the second jab can be delayed for up to 12 weeks in a bid to get more people vaccinated sooner.
Dr Cravioto told a WHO press briefing on Tuesday: “Sage recommend the administration of two doses of this vaccine within 21 to 28 days.
“While we acknowledge the absence of data on safety and efficacy after one dose beyond the three/four weeks studied in the clinical trials, Sage made a provision for countries in exceptional circumstances of vaccine supply constraints and epidemiological settings to delay the administration of the second dose for a few weeks in order to maximise the number of individuals benefiting from a first dose.”